In 1813 there were two types of 8 Reales issued by the Mexico City Mint. They were the 1813 JJ and the 1813 HJ.

The practice at the mint was to identify the assayers by placing the senior assayer’s initial first when going around the coin clockwise, using the initial of what we call “the first name” in the United States of America.

“Senior” refers to the assayer hired first at the mint.

The years 1812 and 1813 were special cases where apparently 3 first class assayers were employed at the Mexico City Mint at the same time.  Henrique Buenaventura Azorin (H) was an assayer from 1803 into 1814, Joaquin Davila Madrid (J) was an assayer from 1809 into 1833 and Jose Garcia Ansaldo (J) from 1812 into 1833.

For this particular coin, Henrique and Joaquin give us HJ.

For the part of 1812 after Jose Garcia Ansaldo (J) was hired, in both 1812 and 1813 when the Reales bore the initials HJ, I don’t know whether Azorin (H) and Madrid (J) or Azorin (H) and Ansaldo (J) are being referred to.  In 1812 after the hiring of Ansaldo (J) a significant majority of 1812 and 1813 Reales bore the initials (JJ), making the (HJ) scarcer than the (JJ). 

 

The coin currently for sale is from the Draped Bust Series.

With the Draped Bust Series, which started in the latter part of 1811, the purity content rose to 90.3%, back to where it was from 1772 through 1784, and the latter part of 1789 and all of 1790.

 

 

Photography:

 

The physical appearance of a coin will differ depending on the type, intensity and angle of the light under which we view the coin. 

For photographing this toned coin, I use a 100 watt incandescent light bulb at a distance of about 1 foot.  Incandescent light is the type used when grading coins.

 

Sales Information

DOMESTIC SALES - FREE SHIPPING. 

Tracking Numbers:  I will post a tracking number after I ship to you.

 

INTERNATIONAL SALES 

I am not currently making international sales. 

If you know of a specific proven method of getting a coin from the US to you outside the US that is secure, reliable, and doesn’t cost way too much, I appreciate the information.  My current complete block of international sales is due to my lack of current information regarding the cost of shipping.

Payment

As I understand it, you are restricted to using only Paypal as has been the case for many years.

I would appreciate your paying me in a timely fashion after the close of the sale.

Other Information

My shipment to you:  The 8^th largest city in the USA no longer has a Post Office open after 5:00PM Monday through Friday. My mail route is “a training route” so I no longer have any idea who is going to be delivering my mail, or at what time of day.  I am not going to leave a $50-$500 coin outside to be picked up by “whomever”.  Given all of this, if you win and pay for a coin this morning, it probably won’t be put in the mail this afternoon.  They are taken to the Post Office to be mailed.

Returns:  This is a collector coin and not just some chunk of silver bullion.  If you do not feel that this coin is “right for you” after you have examined it, send an email letting me know it is coming back to me.  Return shipping cost is at the buyer’s expense.  Return it at your convenience, preferably within 14 days. The shipping to you is at my expense for domestic shipping. 

This is an old collector’s coin, and you and I both know, as coin collectors, sometimes a coin that looks good from photos does not measure up to our expectations.  After you have looked at it, if you decide that it is “not for you”, you don’t have to list a bunch of reasons why you have decided you do not want it.  Just let me know that you will be sending it back so that I will know to expect it.  I have other old 8 Reales.  If for some reason you don’t feel satisfied with this coin, that doesn’t mean you won’t be happy with the next one you win.

Please read everything I have stated to you about this coin, if I have made any specific comments about it.  If there is something of interest to you about the coin that I did not explain to you in this listing, send an email.